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OMG!!! I’M THROWING IN THE TOWEL

OK. OK. I’m being dramatic, just a little bit. BUT – the new issue of Milieu? Have you seen it?????

First – it’s the MOST gorgeous issue of any magazine I’ve ever seen. There’s not one stinker in this issue. NOT ONE.

You know how even in the best magazines, there is always one or two stinker houses – and let’s face it – lately, most times you are lucky if you even like ONE house per magazine.

But the spring issue of Pamela Pierce’s Milieu is stunning. It’s a “color” issue, I suppose. It’s as colorful as chic, talented designers will go. This isn’t BS decorating done by so called designers who fill the pages of most magazines – where they just pick fabrics that absolutely don’t even go together and use ugly furniture and put crap everywhere and call it design.

I’m so tired of that. Of all of that. I HATE it. I’m so tired of editors just showing houses that don’t make sense, where nothing looks good together or everything is just bright because bright is now trendy.

Instead, I see the new issue of Milieu and everything is so inspiring. The pages are filled with beautiful fabrics and beautiful colors – yes some are bright, but most are soothing and peaceful – who wants to live with your eyes blinded by busy fabrics? These houses in Milieu are filled with both antiques and classic contemporary pieces. Pretty pieces. Why does interior design have to ugly? Why? Everyone keeps pushy ugly. Why???

In the magazine, even the ads are beautiful. A birdie told me that Milieu asks all advertisers to turn in new ads for each issue which color coordinate with that issue’s theme. This attention to detail pays off – the ads are luscious and a common style and hue runs throughout the issue. Thus, the ads become part of the story.

Did I tell you I loved this issue? Just look at this ad by Chateau Domingue which features antique tiles that are the main colors of the issue – acid green and pink. Beautiful.

And what of the houses in this issue?There is a house in Dallas – by Ladye Kay Allen – done in pink and while striped linen slipcovers that is so gorgeous, I almost cried when I saw it. GORGEOUS.

Ladye Kay Allen’s pink living room – I want pink in my house!!!

And Dallas interior designer Shannon Bowers, whose former house was everyone’s favorite for years, shows us her latest – it’s grown up sophisticated, not all Swedish and white anymore, but edited and serene with great contemporary pieces, and beyond wonderful. Her bedroom is FABULOUS.

Shannon Bowers’ living room – with just a touch of bright yellow and pale pink mixed with gray and white stripes.

There’s a house in Belgium – well – you just have to see it. Filled with antique architectural floors and stairs and doors and hardware – the living room is bright green and it just works. You can’t tell if you are sitting inside or outside.

Are you in or are you out?

There’s a house outside of Santa Fe with a peachy pink stucco exterior that makes you want to put a paintbrush to your brick.

Inside the Santa Fe house.

And there’s a house by Eleanor Cummings – a departure for her – it’s bright and happy, and chic. I especially love the tiled kitchen with the yellow island.

To visit the Milieu website – go HERE.

To subscribe to Milieu, go HERE. People with a subscription are able to access the issue online, which, is a great convenience.

And so, I’m not really retiring. Instead I’m incredibly inspired now, thanks to Milieu! So, I went to visit my old friends in their new shop – Joyce Horn Antiques.

Well – they’ve been there on Old Katy Road for a year now. They are all so sweet and made me feel right at home.

And, as expected, everything is so beautiful. The front is filled with light, painted furniture everywhere you look.

Beauty is all around – this is the view that greets you when you walk in.

I was looking for a client, and it was hard to resist shopping for myself! So many of the large antiques in my house came from Joyce Horn. I’ve always found their prices to be fair and reasonable and Joyce has a wonderful eye for picking the best from France.

The shop was filled to the rafters because they’ve just unloaded TWO new shipments from Europe.

The new shipments will be on the sales floor on Tuesday – March 25, at 10:00 am!!

I look forward to getting my copy. If it hadn't been for your introduction to it, I would never have known about MILIEU. The cover is so beautiful too. The pink and white linen slipcovers are gorgeous and the painting in that room. All are so unique and so updated-not the regular busy busy colors in some magazines that look like left over fabric that had to be use somewhere. The entrance into Joyce Horn's shop would keep me entranced and I may never get to the remainder of the store. I would love to visit I can't wait to see what you purchased for your home or a clients--pictures in an upcoming blog-P-L-E-A-S-E. What a wonderful way to start a day. Thanks Joni. xoxoxo Kathy

MILIEU is fabulous and the most beautiful magazine I have ever held in my hands!!! I drool over every page thank you for sharing. I would love to see Joyce Horn's shop perhaps one day!!Love to hear your thoughts about design...thank you!!!

Your comment about trying not to shop for yourself while shopping for your client: That is a battle I lose every time! One for the client, one, two for Rebecca... ;-) Okay, maybe not QUITE that bad, but bad enough that I occasionally have to sneak accessories into the house and try to convince my husband that we've ALWAYS had that lamp and he just never noticed it before.

I have been looking for this issue for over a week, since I saw a pic of Shannon Bower's living room! Barnes and Noble only have the Dec/winter issue. Now with the beautiful pics you have shown, OMG it's 5:34 am CA time, or I would run right now to Barnes and Noble to see if they got it in YET... I am mean really, aren't they a book store...UGH. Thank you for sharing a gorgeous sneak peek! You are always in the know! Laurie'

And Joni, doesn't the Lady Allen's, can't wait to find out who she is, beautiful pink slips remind you of Suzanne Reinstein's home with her beautiful grey and cream strips over her French and Regency furniture, In her book AT HOME. Love it.

Thanks for encouraging me to open my latest issue of Milieu. Actually, the only "stinker" is the cover which put me off, but the interiors on the interior are gorgeous. I love the linen stripped slipcovers and the pops of yellow really freshen up the neutrals without overwhelming. Thanks for highlighting what appears to be a gorgeous issue.

Love, love, love this magazine. Joni, I subscribed the day you posted about it's debut. I haven't received my new issue yet. (fingers crossed) Such gorgeous rooms! I'm almost afraid to study your pictures because I don't want to ruin the arrival of the magazine!Beth

This issue of the magazine is spectacular!! I love how they show so many photos of one house. I do, however, wish their source page was more generous. As much as I loved the content I didn't like the cover AT ALL. The attempt to be different only looked like a fabric house ad- they've been doing models in fabric/wallpaper/tile/trim for years now. I would much rather see a beautiful room on the cover which is why I subscribe in the first place.

Joni,I do love this magazine but for some reason I always get my issue about 3 weeks after everyone else. Not sure why. ALways hard to wait for it to come when posts on the Internet contains such great images.Thank goodness subscribers can also look at the digital version, but just not the same as curling up with the magazine. I think a subscription to the magazine makes a great gift also.PLEASE do not quit your blog! Keep these great posts coming.

Thanks for the walk through the Antique Shop . Makes me want to go home and grab a paint brush for some furniture that needs to be painted a different color. I like how the inside of the desk is painted a different color than the outside,I haven't ever noticed that magazine before so will look for it

OMG! is right. For a moment there I thought you were closing the blog. I thought "Oh no.!" Then I told myself, she works so hard, if she can't keep it up, oh well. Surprise! Another great blog post. I love this magazine. I'm going to have to find it at the bookstore. I love pink, and blush, and the yellow and the beautiful aged floors. It just sets off everything so beautifully. Thank you.

Yes, absolutely, the BEST issue yet of Milieu. I, of course, loved loved loved how they did a "fashion shoot" with fabrics and trims. Just brilliant, I think. And, I am so proud of Pamela's being a Houstonian. I buy extra copies at Kroger and pass them out at the clue and everywhere else I see a girlfriend. Beautiful post, Joni. And, if YOU retire half of the country would be in tears !!

I wrote because I have viewed this magazine, and was disappointed at its limit in design features. But, I so AGREE it is very well done and for that particular style, and HOPE that other magazines in our future take on this example of a unique approach and feature styles we ALL can love!

"I’m so tired of that. Of all of that. I HATE it. I’m so tired of editors just showing houses that don’t make sense, where nothing looks good together or everything is just bright because bright is now trendy." Agree totally. I was wondering if it was because I'm getting older and must be 'out of it.'

The only good thing about it (and I mean the ONLY good thing) is that much of the furniture (and accessories), that would have ended up at the dump, is being "repurposed." Call it "save the planet" decorating.

Thank you so much for your blog and your wonderful posts. Please, please don't retire! I am not a decorator, and was really wondering about the current decorating magazines which made me question my own tastes. So much seems so garish these days. And you always show such lovely places. Thank you again.

I was a little taken aback at your comment about "stinkers". They're not stinkers - they're simply not your taste. Every one of the rooms you've thought of as a stinker has appealed to someone, otherwise (a) they wouldn't have been created in the first place, and (b) they wouldn't have been featured in a decorating magazine.

While I also dislike most of the things you dislike, I try not to be too judgmental. Somewhere, someone is drooling over one of your "stinkers", wondering why their favourite magazine doesn't feature more homes like that. LOL!

Exactly! And just as you and I are entitled to our taste and our views regarding what constitutes a "stinker" and what doesn't, so are the "young, I'm-smarter-than-anyone-else editors" ... and, oh yes, the owners of these homes.

The point I'm trying to make is, just because Joni and you and I don't like them, doesn't mean they're "stinkers".

Squeak,I"m still sticking to my guns that there is some really ugly, senseless, thrown-together crap that looks like a monkey threw it together out there in some of the mags lately.The emperor didn't have any clothes on, remember?Sheila

True....some pages I see lately hurt my eyes & I turn without even looking. I do love the subtle colors and agree there is something for everyone. Just not a "bright" girl anymore! I do question magazine subscriptions though. I see the news stand brimming with new editions of magazines I subscribe to & don't get in the mail until sometimes 2 weeks? What is the deal? I know they use their subscriber numbers to sell ads but I feel like I am being used, not appreciated. I am considering no longer subscribing even if it costs more. Drives me nuts to see & I am not a peeker. Has to be my issue!! I have the new Milieu, just haven't had time to sit & enjoy. Thanks Joni!

Oh my gosh. The pink and cream! I'm with you - just beautiful I, too, don't enjoy the shelter mags anymore. I don't renew subscription, don't buy them in the stores. But you have made me want this one. Thanks so much.Lauren

On behalf of Pam Pierce and the Milieu team, thank you. We are pleased to hear that you all are enjoying Milieu. To clarify, Milieu is a quarterly magazine. Our spring issue just mailed out last week and will be on the newsstands next week right in line with the start of spring. Our summer issue will reach readers mailboxes mid June. Thank you all for your kind words and support.Best, Megan Megas Publisher

I, too, am so tired of these "designers" that throw just anything together and call it "new," "exciting," or "young." It's just ugly, okay, and they are just inexperienced. Oh, and their taste is for crap. Whoever told them they are designers anyway? There is a true eclectic that does still feel cohesive in it's own way, and then there are these people that are basically trying to pull the wool over our eyes with this garbage. The editors are as clueless as the designers. They must think people are stupid. I've seen bloggers online who are shopping at thrift stores that are more talented than some of these recent people.This mag looks beautiful by the way.Sheila

Barbara 5;27p.m.Uh, no, I'm not nasty. I'm only saying that the designs that are awful lately ARE truly awful. The good designers, of which there are so very many, are a joy to savor. Good ones are good and bad ones are not good. I kind of confirmed in my own charmless, direct way what Joni had already said. She is more eloquent and humorous than I am.But an ugly non-cohesive room is still ugly, no matter how you want to frame it.I thought that's what this post was about, anyway, how there are some really ugly designs in the mags out there these days and how this mag is lovely and beautiful. Non?Sheila

I hear you. There is just some really ugly designs out there. And - these rooms were pretty. I liked that for once. I understand exactly what you both were saying, and i know Sheila meant no disrespect. She is just venting. Thanks!

Ohhhhh.. the pink & white stripes look so frothy and delicious and the whole room is a perfect celebration of the first day of spring. Maybe I’ll find bit of a similar fabrics and re-cover the bench in my bathroom, I think it will update my Brunschwig pink/green ‘Althea’ curtains.Wonderful past as always, Joni, thank you!Now I will run out and see if the mail has brought my copy of Milieu...

I found a copy of Milieu in my mailbox today! OMG, can we say amazing? How perfect that it arrived on the first day of spring. You're right--every page is pure eye candy. The prettiest magazine ever. I love that kitchen in Houston with the terra-cotta floor and tiled walls, but that bedroom is just gorgeous with the canopy bed and Philip Jeffries wallpaper. I quickly glanced through the pages but am saving it for later tonight to really explore. Your visit to Joyce Horn makes me want to come back to Houston! I love her store and spy so many wonderful things. ~Delores

I subscribed to MILIEU immediately, using your link the very first time you announced it. I love it too. But what I really love is you Joni. You always make me laugh because I so relate to someone who could cry over something so lovely as pink linen. I really want to visit Joyce Horn now too, looks like I better bring my checkbook!e

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I just loved this post, and I especially loved your flat out honesty about some of these "so called" awesome designs that appear in magazines (which will go unmentioned here) that, quite "honestly" are ugly. They make no sense whatsoever, but because you are some "big name designer", you think your random pillow, that relates to nothing, or your random accessory, that relates to nothing, is design genius, but, the reality is......it's UGLY....so there!!!! I agree with you. I was so inspired by the images, that I have become a subscriber of Milieu (I did see a post about Milieu on Belgium Pearls). Anyhow, like you, I gasped and swooned over the interior with the soft pink slipcovers and neutral backdrop....simply beautiful!!!! Kudos!! Vickie @ BlancheandKateDesign.com

Beautiful rooms, and especially beautiful to me because of their use of color. But what really pulled at my heartstrings was your phrase about the "houses don't make sense." I have been saying that for the past few years and shaking my head in wonderment, but my husband has been telling me "You think too much." LOL But they haven't made sense, and I am glad to know it is not just me! And they haven't been pretty, and this was pretty. So thank you thank you!

I had started to believe that I had cross the line of becoming an old woman that refused to keep up with the times. When I was young and would see the homes of my Aunts ect and think they were clueless that their house was so dated. I thought that had become me . I hate all the trendy things that the magazines are showing now, I quit buying them... Thank you for letting me know I am not alone or dated !!!

Okay, without naming designers (because we wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings), what are some specific things you dislike about what you are seeing in magazines? Besides bright and garish colors? Why don't the houses make sense? I agree, but would like to hear your thoughts.

My goodness, the pictures from Milieu and Joyce Horn are gorgeous! Thank you for sharing! As an amateur, I know when design is done right, and I know when it's wrong, but often can't explain why. That is what is so interesting about this blog!

Needless to say another fabulous post! You are always so informative and thorough. Will you please answer a question? The french, metal table in your breakfast room...is it an antique or reproduction? If so, who makes it and where could a girl get one. Thanks so much. Chasha

It truly is a beautiful issue- cover to cover! But I especially about died when I saw Shannon Bowers living room and couldn't wait for my issue to arrive. I don't often feel this way about a home, but there is nothing about it that I would change. So glad you told us about Milieu. I subscribed as soon as you did.

Beautiful images, Joni. As much as I love the pink stripe linen, I may like the taupe and bright yellow room better. It has a touch of whimsy, but both are wonderful. Just an aside - I always enjoy your in-depth posts and feel that I really get something out of each and everyone. There is very little "fluff" which is refreshing considering all of the nonsense that some other blogs includes (St. Patricks Day mantels - really?). This shorter post, though, had the unexpected benefit of loading very quickly. Sometimes I'm impatient with the picture-heavy posts because they take a long time to load. I know, we should all have such insignificant problems.

I'm also glad that you introduced us to Milieu - beautiful! I'm wondering whether the many painted finishes seen on Joyce Horn's furniture are original or whether they have refinished some of their pieces with light colors that are more current. I cannot tell from their website. I wonder if Joni or any Houston readers know.

I don't know whether Joyce Horn refinishes any furniture themselves or they buy them repainted, but in general -- the vast majority of European antiques you'll find in any shop are repainted. There are very few "original" painted pieces out there, and you will know them from the price point. Joyce Horn sells lovely, but very affordable pieces. Hence I would expect that most are repainted, most likely in Europe before Joyce Horn ever laid eyes on them.

That is an interesting point. I have been buying antiques for years here in the U.K. and keep a weather eye on prices over the Channel in France too. Then I have compared the prices of pieces I have seen in Cote de Texas blogs and am pretty astounded at what is being a. labelled as an 'antique' and b. the prices themselves, which are up to 50 times (or perhaps more, I'm trying to assess as I write), what they are when bought in the street markets in France or the salerooms of England. I know they are shipped but even so, someone is getting awfully rich ripping off the American public. You would be better booking a ticket for a week, flying over and visiting a few salerooms yourselves, then arranging the shipping too. You would see a bit of European life AND save thousands of dollars! Really! In fact, I would be pleased to help anyone with the places to go for these bargains in advance.... you need only ask. And yes there is a lot of painting going on.

Oh my -- I'm a little out of step with Joni and the rest of you here. While I'm sure this magazine is a work of art and the epitome of good taste (we already know from earlier posts about it that it's a labor of love), other than the first picture of the tile and the final picture of the kitchen, the rooms featured don't do it for me at all. I can't say they're not pretty because they are, just that I like more color and visual stimulation. Sorry, the pink striped fabric doesn't fill me with lust! The thing is that I enjoy this blog in spite of your favored style, Joni -- my tastes are quite different yet there is much of interest with all of your painstaking research, fine writing, interaction with your readers, and occasional forays into the world of bright colors/non-white dominated rooms/abundance of pattern. Thanks for all that you do and yes, I do enjoy it when you get opinionated. It's your blog and one of the most well-done and entertaining that I've found.

I'm with you, bfish - I really don't know what Joni means when she says she's tired of ugly rooms. What would that mean? A predominance of ticking instead of damask? All kinds of 'wonderful' patina on items that in another world you would call rusty and throw out. Those Swedish and Belgium neutrals are enough to make one slit their wrists after awhile - I suppose it's the desire to live in a colorless world and call it calming. If done right, color adds some gaiety and it doesn't have to look like Pee Wee's Playhouse.

Joyce Horn Antiques looks fabulous, I adore that little blue desk with the deep red color inside - love it. OK...I'm not really feelin' it for Milieu. I looked over the photos many times thinking, "am I missing something here?". There were a few elements I really like, the furniture/ pink slipcovers are so lovely, but the rest of the room was not good to me - those lamps, curtains, fireplace, odd uninteresting accessories. I did not like the kitchen at all - it just was so bland, nothing really interesting here, and the bar stools are so bad I think. The mix of colors and finishes just didn't do it for me. The green room was probably the most interesting for me. And, I have to say, I cannot bare the light pink with the bold bright yellow. Maybe put that blue desk from Joyce Horn in the room with the all the pink furniture, some more texture and accessories that actually show up. Change out those bar stools! Warm that kitchen up - brass faucet maybe? A old runner,a fabric of some sort...something. Yes, I really like your blog, you do a outstanding job...but, I am just not seeing the greatness in these rooms. Personal taste I guess!

Awesome! I love the living room in white. It's looking pretty cool and giving wider look to the place. The pictures showed in the post are giving some really awesome ideas to decorate home with confidence. Thank you for sharing the great post here.

Pretty rooms! I love pretty! And I love the spirited opinions too~I didn't like the bright yellow chair, but that was about it as far as things that I wouldn't do. Nothing a slipcover wouldn't fix when she gets tired of that yellow chair in the future. Loved the pink and white slips!

I strongly suspect that yellow chair became yellow just for the photo shoot (a slipcover and a couple of pillows are easy to stitch up). Looking at the colours in the rest of the room, I expect that normally that chair is slipped in the neutral beige, like everything else.

You are absolutely right. I thank you profusely for having introduced me to this magazine. I hold a subscription (and have gifted a few) thanks to you. This magazine is the best thing that ever happened to me since Lisa Newsom quit as Veranda's Editor-In-Chief and the Caponigro woman took over and became a nuisance in my mailbox. This magazine is not a few scattered articles and lots of ads. Each issue is coherent piece from start to finish and it is a treat to enjoy over and over again. Pamela Pierce has proven to be an innovative designer not only in the interiors world but also in the publishing world. She's to magazines, what you, Jonnie, are to the blog world, a breath of clean, fresh air. Thank you very much!

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This has been exasperating for me as well ! I have read every issue of Veranda magazine since it started and each one was a masterpiece of design and beauty. Even homes that were considered modern/contemporary had something beautiful to draw you in - not just square white rooms with nothing to break up the misery of nothingness. I was especially glad that the cover of Veranda had no mention 101 ways to add a pop of color and other blobidy blob. Just a beautiful cover of a gorgeous home. And it also had advertisements to match-full page and full color. With the new editor my expectations are not as high - the new issue has some unnecessary writing on the cover and the photo is not Veranda Cover worthy.Your right about the magazines throwing anything in and calling it design. When I start wondering "why those pillows" or "the scale seems all wrong and too many disparate pieces" then I lose all interest in the article. And yes I find myself more and more just skimming through my mags than when I used to be thrilled to get my mail and find all my favorite magazines had arrived and get to savor every featured home and scrutinize each photo for the beauty of fabrics and furniture and accessories and how it all came together so beautifully. I am a follower of your posts and appreciate so much your attention to detail and cohesive design!